Desalination using supercritical water and spiral separation

Abstract

The present application relates to systems and methods for the desalination of water. The systems and methods receive source water containing particles therein from a source of water such as, for example, the ocean. The source water may be pre-treated to remove suspensions and/or sub-micron organics in the source water. The source water is used to generate supercritical water having a pressure and temperature above a critical pressure and a critical temperature, respectively. The supercritical water is run through a spiral separator to generate effluent water and waste water containing aggregated particles therein. Energy may be recovered from the effluent water and used to generate additional supercritical water.

1 . A method for treatment of water comprising:
 receiving source water having particles therein;   generating supercritical water from the source water; and   separating the supercritical water into effluent water and waste water having aggregated particles, wherein the supercritical water is separated using a spiral separator.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 pre-treating the source water to remove suspensions and/or sub-micron organics.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the pre-treating of the source water comprises:
 mixing the source water with a coagulant material; and   separating the source water from the suspensions and/or sub-micron organics using a spiral separator.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the separating of supercritical water comprises:
 pressurizing the source water to or beyond a critical pressure; and   heating the source water to or beyond a critical temperature.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 recovering energy from the effluent water and/or the waste water, wherein the energy includes heat and/or pressure.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the supercritical water is generated using the energy recovered from the effluent water and/or the waste water. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 delaying the separation of the supercritical water until the particles therein begin to precipitate out and achieve a size large enough for separation.   
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the pressurizing and heating increase a precipitation of particles out of the fluid, the particles being salt particles. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the pressurizing and heating includes applying varying combinations of different amounts of pressure and heat to precipitate out different types of salt particles. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the precipitation of selected salts is achieved in a single step. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the precipitation of selected salts is achieved in multiple consecutive steps. 
     
     
         12 . A system for the treatment of water comprising:
 an inlet operative to receive source water having particles therein;   a supercritical water generator operative to generate super critical water from the source water;   a spiral separator operative to separate the supercritical water into effluent water and waste water having aggregated particles therein; and   an outlet operative to provide a path for the effluent water.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the supercritical water generator pressurizes and heats the source water, wherein the source water is pressurized to or above a critical pressure, wherein the source water is heated to or above a critical temperature. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein a ratio of different particle types in the waste water is adjusted by varying a temperature to which the source water is heated and/or by varying a pressure to which the source water is pressurized. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a buffer tank operative to hold the supercritical water generated by the supercritical water generator until the particles therein begin to precipitate out and achieve a size large enough for separation.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 an energy recoverer operative to recover heat and/or pressure from the effluent water and/or the waste water.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the supercritical water generator uses recovered heat and/or pressure from the energy recoverer. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a pretreater operative to remove suspensions and/or sub-micron organics from the source water.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the pretreater mixes a coagulant with the source water. 
     
     
         20 . A system for separation of particles from supercritical water, the system comprising:
 an inlet to receive at least a portion of the supercritical water containing the particles;   a spiral channel within which the supercritical water flows in a manner such that the particles flow in a tubular band offset from a center of the channel, wherein the channel is pressurized to at least 22.1 MPa and the supercritical water is heated to at least 647° K;   a first outlet for the supercritical water within which the tubular band flows; and,   a second outlet for the remaining supercritical water.